Mqabba 1

Tarxien R 1

A timid display from both Mqabba and Tarxien Rainbows, could only end in a one-all draw, with goals being the only highlights of a low-key match that remained dismal stuff for those who came to be entertained.

Points have been so elusive for these two struggling sides that even in a match against each other they contrived to look as though they would emerge with nothing.

Tarxien won a point after two previous league defeats, while this was only the second point for Mqabba in their last four league matches.

But it was a messy affair, suffocated by the threat of relegation. The future looks bleak for Tarxien who remain one place off the bottom while Mqabba are three points above them in eighth place.

Mqabba left Marlon Briffa, Bojan Mamic and Thiago Mazitelli on the bench with John Mwoba their main striker and Mauro Bonnici playing in a more advanced role than usual.

Tarxien, with Everton Pereira and Jimmy Mayasi Nzinga as their only two foreigners, were helped by an early lead, after only 13 minutes play.

Anonam caught the Mqabba defence square as he laid a low pass to Jimmy Nzinga. The flag did not go up and the Tarxien striker blasted the ball past the helpless keeper Kris Calleja.

Mqabba took some time to dust off the early setback but since Tarxien failed to press on their advantage, Mizzi’s boys started gradually to find their pace. Pereira reached before Mwoba to clear the danger on Grima’s long pass inside the Tarxien area.

As the half wore on, Mqabba kept the initiative and although they rarely embarrassed the Tarxien backline, they managed to draw level on the stroke of halftime.

Keeper Cassar missed the flight of the ball from John Paul Muscat’s corner from the left and it ended behind him over the line.

Mqabba remained to be the better side even after the restart and went close to take the lead inside four minutes of the second period when Bonnici headed Muscat’s cross against the bar.

Claudio Calleja twice had shots from a distance going over before Tarxien won a couple of corners following forages of Nzinga and Mamo which were neutralised by keeper Kris Calleja. But otherwise the match remained bottom-of-the table stuff, with the ball kicked from one end to another with little purpose.

On a positive note, midfielder Mark Tanti made his return for Tarxien as a substitute on 72 minutes after a long lay off and Mqabba also put in Mazitelli 12 minutes from time but that failed to lift the gloom.

Mqabba K. Calleja, C. Micallef (T. Mazitelli), M. Bonnici, C. Calleja (R. Sammut), B. Timotic, J.P. Muscat (M. Briffa), M. Potezika, D. Azzopardi, P. Grima, J. Nwoba, J. Briffa

Coach C. Mizzi

Tarxien R D. Cassar, S. Sadowski, C. Mamo, M. Caruana, E. Pereira, A. Carabott (M. Tanti), J. Nzinga, O. Anonam, R. Mintoff, L. Galea, J. Griolo (W. Zerafa)

Coach P. Curmi

Referee M. Borg

Asst.refs E. Spiteri, S. Attard

4th official E. Azzopardi

Scorers J.Nzinga 13, J.P. Muscat 45

Yellow cards J. Nwoba, B. Timotic, S. Sadowski

Player of the match J.P. Muscat (Mqabba)

TMI top 3 1. M. Potezika 2. M. Bonnici 3. O. Anonam